Spokane mayor gets vast new power over police

Creation of six new departments within police department potentially gives mayor option of appointing director, assistant director for each

By Jonathan Brunt
Spokane Spokesman-Review

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Mayor David Condon has won vast new power to hire and remove top fire and police administrators.

The Spokane City Council on Monday narrowly approved the creation of six new departments within the Police Department and seven within the Fire Department, potentially giving the mayor the power to appoint a director and assistant director of each new department.